Here we are, two years later, and again we see fires in Colorado, only worse this time. I've heard from Rex that they are safe. Howabout the rest of you, LeeJ, BlueJay, BanjoMan, Deda? Is the Hayman anywhere near any of you?

We had smoke on Sunday night, which was bad enough to cause a *hack*, from the Glade Park blaze, but it has cleared now. I see also that they seem to have saved Glenwood Springs, where my dad, brother, and sister were born and one of my very favourite places.

Anyway, I'm giving thanks for rain, safety for all, and an end to the wind and drought. Hope you are all safe and/or ready to go if need be, gawds and gawdesses forbid.

Wyo. Gov. has just announced NO open fires, NO fire-pit fires, NO charcoal fires, NO chain saws or anything that will make a spark on all State owned lands......only thing that is allowed is propane stoves. I had to wonder if that meant internal combustion engines.......cars, trucks, jet skis, boats, etc..........

Will sure put a dent in the camping season.

Anybody thought about what will happen if Denver proper catches fire?????????

Hayman about 10 miles south. We are just outside the voluntary evac area, as is Rex I believe. This is a mighty big fire (nearly 100,000 acres) and so far 0% contained. Best hope is that wind might blow it back on itself. There is evidence of several attempted arsons in the forest near our town, just to add to the fun. Pray for rain or snow.

Yeah, we're hanging in there. Got the place a little safer by dropping trees and clearing them out. Things are boxed up and ready if we have to fly. The Pike National forest is closed. Closed. That's a first. I hope it helps. A wee bit o' rain would be nice.

Boulder is so far well out the path of the fires, but Hayman is unpredictable. But it would have to cross Denver to get to us, which isn't likely. We've had some visible haze from the smoke, and a little sprinkling of fine dust (soot?) but not too much of either. The principal boss where I work took off today to see if his condo in Glenwood Springs is safe. LeeJ, do you have somewhere to go if you have to evacuate? I don't have any room in my place here (it's a single-wide) but I can probably commandeer a space for you in a friend's house in Aurora if need be.

Anyone heard from Bert? Last I knew he was down near Colorado Springs, right?

Thanks, Deda and Rex, good to hear from both of you. Hell, you could all just decamp to my backyard for a week's vacation...PARTEE!!!!:-)

My sister had to drive past the Lake George area, yesterday. She said it was really eerie as there were no people, in the ordinary sense, just the fire command posts with tents, etc. and a few animals. She came over the Divide down through Glenwood Canyon and saw the fire there, too. There weren't even any skeletal remains of any of the houses, etc. which were burnt. She said it was burned thoroughly to the ground, nothing but rumble and ash.

Rain, rain, come again Quench the thirsty land Free all from fire's harm.

I just heard that the Boulder fire dept has sent a few people to the Hayman and Glenwood fires, but they're keeping most of their people here because the fire hazard is so high close to home, and they don't want to be caught short-handed if another fire starts inside the county. Boulder isn't at risk from the current fires, but as I've said before, everything is dry, dry, dry.

Good to hear everyone is ok so far. Bad to hear the whole state is crispy and worse. Especially sad when you know all those areas so well.

I read on the AP today that the winds had shifted and were blowing the fire toward the southwest, which would mean toward Colorado Springs, right? I couldn't get a good map on any of the news websites to show exactly where things are.

If all y'all in Colorado and points west would just suck really hard, you could bring some of Kansas' drippiness your direction, and I could get into my garden.

The weather has cooled and winds have dropped, so that efforts to slurry-bomb the fire's perimeter have been more effective. They say that they are in the process of digging a 90 mile fire line around the blaze, and that the fire my not be completely controlled until September.

The TV news is a constant source of misinformation on this, and seem more interested in drumming up the threat of "Denver May Burn!" than in providing substantive facts about the fire. Makes you realize the local news is closer to "entertainment" than "journalism".

Well, crud. I guess I get surprises like this because I live life without a TV or newspaper. I'm getting ready to embark on a cross country trip from near Chicago, to Phoenix, up to Seattle, and back to Chicago. I was thinking of dropping down to Colorado on the way from Seattle to Chicago. Can anyone tell me if this plan is no longer feasible, or do I just need to take a route that keeps me far north or south? Are the fire limited to CO, or are they all over the west?

It's mostly the big one over by Denver and Colorado Springs, Homeless. They are getting a handle on the one at Glenwood Springs on the Western Slope, and letting most people back to their homes, or to see what's left of them. There are small ones here and there across the West, but those were the two major ones. Personally, I wouldn't let them stop me; I would just avoid getting too near the one on the Eastern Slope, except that 'catters are close to it whom I'd like to see.:-) How's that for an ambilvalent answer?*bg*

The report I just read said that the fire starter admitted she had started it. An accident. A camp fire that got away from her. And she is one of the fire fighters. That's very sad for her and for everyone involved.

Very sad indeed for the US Forestry Service, whose spokesmen on TV were visibly shaken. The alleged Firestarter has been arrested & charged with various crimes---damaging Federal property, etc. Potential total 15 years jail, CNN said. But, it was unclear to me whether it was thought to have been accidental, or deliberate. Accidental is quite bad enough, thank you. Presumably there weren't supposed to *be* any campfires, right?

The report I just read said she was a forestry technician in the area to enforce the no campfire rule. She started a fire in a stone fire-ring in order to burn a letter from her estranged husband and it got away. She was the person who first reported the fire and stated that she had found an unattended campfire and had tried to douse it with dirt, but was unsuccessful. Fire officials were suspicious and further investigation brought out her confession.

Rex, rained on me a little bit in downtown Denver about 4 pm Sunday afternoon, on Saturday around 6:30 in Lakewood, and has spat a little on several other days. Not enough for the Hayman to actually even notice yet though.

I keep seeing those pictures of flooding in Minnesota or wherever and wishing we could get just six inches of that water.

Rain may be an exaggeration, at least for Boulder. We've had showers, lasting up to about ten minutes at a stretch, and often accompanied by lightning -- which is more of a threat than usual for us just now. Maybe the rain was longer up where LEJ is. But these little cloudbursts have happened 3 days in a row, if I remember right. I guess they help some. Waterways and lakes are still very low. But I think the two big fires are pretty well contained now. I don't think they're causing traffic or travelling problems unless you try to drive across or through one of them. I'd avoid Glenwood Springs for a while.

Oh, and come to Colorado for your vacation. You won't even know about the fires if you don't read the newspaper or listen to the radio. The Hayman fire is the biggest fire in Colorado history, and it has burned just over 1/10th of 1 percent of the state. You'll likely never notice.

You are about as likely to be delayed by flooding on the Mississippi or by tornados across Nebraska. That is, it's possible, but highly unlikely.

My sister came through Colorado Springs, Lake George, and Glenwood Springs this past Thursday and had no trouble with traffic jams. As Night Wing says, there's plenty of the state which isn't on fire, although it is all in need of water.

(wed night, 9:45PM Mountain time) We're getting bunch of thunder and lightning now, but precious little rain. Of course we have water rationing for watering lawns, only allowed twice a week for 15 minutes on each spot. I have a little veggie garden, lettuce and radishes and tomatoes, etc. I recycle the gray water from my showers (I just leave the drain plugged) onto the garden.

Latest about the forest service person is that she may have actually meant to start the Hayman fire. The fires are still going, but apparently contained. I can hear a little rain falling now, so I'm just praying it'll continue. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers, please keep 'em coming.

Lots of smoke over here, today, mostly from the one by Durango and a bit from Alamosa way, according to reports. Can't imagine how it must be closer to the fires.

As a matter of interest, this link leads to a genweb project which lists all of the names and info on miners who lost their lives in mine explosions from 1896-1918 in the "Hogbacks" which are where this year's Coal Seam fire started. If I remember right, mom and dad always said most of them were never recovered and are still there buried with the coal which took their lives: GenWeb - Coal Miners in Western Colorado. Anyone know if there are any songs about this?

Smokey here (Albuquerque), said to be mostly from fires in eastern Arizona. I guess Texas is getting the smoke from New Mexico's fires...oh well, they get our water, so I guess that's fair. The biggest fire here is on the famous Fillmont Boy Scout Ranch. 94 today, 98 yesterday.

Contained? Nope. It is still VERY nasty. Excerpts from this afternoon.

Friday, June 21, 2002 - Updated 2:30 p.m. DENVER POST

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Less than half the gigantic Hayman fire was contained today.

Firefighters on the Hayman fire had taken advantage of two days of good weather, including a bit of rain, to set up strong positions around the fire. Warmer, drier weather was forecast through the weekend.

With no large flare-ups, the 136,000-acre Hayman fire appeared to grow only in the Lost Creek Wilderness Area on the northwest corner. Forest Service officials now say 106 structures have burned in the four counties hit by the Hayman fire a crew of 2,500 are on the fire.

Firefighters at the 59,000-acre Missionary Ridge fire hadn't gotten the cooler, more humid weather that aided their comrades on the Hayman fire. Up to 14 more homes burned late Thursday, bringing the number lost to 47. 1,263 firefighters on the scene.

A fire burning in the Rio Grande National Forest grew to 6,000 acres and is threatening up to 200 homes and 25 businesses near South Fork.

Oh lord. artbrooks, what part of Philmont is burning? Horrible wind/dust storm here tonight--visibility zero. Of course I wasn't home and all the windows were open. Raining just a very little bit now.....come on rain!!!